Bink's Brewing Company

Yo ho ho ho - mostly OP but will dabble in other anime/manga Concept_Creep on Ao3

[frogfromfunkytown]

This is one of the few works that I have completed. I've probably already posted this on Twitter, but who cares.

[binks-brew-co]

Watching Dr. Stone with a background in evolutionary biology is so funny because what breaks my suspension of disbelief isn’t the stone stuff, but how the survivors’ children were able to actually survive without debilitating genetic mutations and experiencing typical impacts of the bottleneck effect. The first 6 didn’t even get up to replacement rate and you expect me to accept that each generation has survived for 2000 years since? The northern elephant seal bounced back in a century or so, but from over 20 individuals. 6? Nah bruh. I’m sure a chemist would rip the show apart too but I don’t know enough to comment on that. I just know that 6 people (5 of which die before they end their childrearing years!) does not a suitable population make. It’s so specific with the chemical steps yet so handwavey when it comes to another field of actual science (ecology and evolutionary biology)

[ishouldgetatumbler]

One of the foundational things that frustrates me about fandom narrative surrounding hxh is the idea that Leorio and Kurapika are Killua and Gon’s parents. While I understand that they are older have generally protective, positive feelings towards the boys, I think it misunderstands and downplays one of the best themes of the series:

No one is these kids parents.

Not even their parents.

Killua and Gon spend the series hopping from frying pan to fire and back again without supervision or much outside assistance much of the time. The core question of the series is “is being a hero actually good for kids?”

Over and over throughout ther series youre forced to watch as childlike innoncence constantly worsens the torture of conflict. The fact gon expects better of the world and the people in it leads to constant heartbreak.

The first time they meet and Gon establishes his non-existant self worth by jumping off the side of the boat, (presuming that two strangers would catch him and if he died then Eh) Kurapika and Leorio react in horror, they view his actions as totally suicidal and berate him for his foolishness. He quickly establishes that his idealism and lack of self-worth are entangled; his life isnt worth much because all people are good.

It wasnt a risk at all because leorio and kurapika are good people and would certainly catch him, and it wasnt much of a risk because even if Gon does accept hes good (something he never expresses), good men are plentiful and he can be replaced.

Later, Kurapika and Leorio watch as Hanzo beats the shit out of a child. The conflict is severely worsened by Gon’s idealism, his belief in fairness and his desire to prove his worth through contribution, both good desires, push a small concession into a broken arm and a severe concussion.

Later, when Canary is again beating a child to a pulp, Kurapika and Leorio seem to have learned their lesson now. Gon can rely on them to not react at all as he gets beaten into a bloody heap.

They leave him in the next arc.

There can be no argument that Gon and Killua have any lasting positive relationship with any adults. Even the adults responsible for their raising, Mito and Zoldycks, have highly strained relationships with their children. The Boys have no close relationships outside of each other, at least not by the animated series ending. Kurapika and leorio are family, but not family you see often.

To claim Killua and Gon have parents at all is to ankle shank one of the strongest emotional throughlines of the series; where are the fucking adults? The real adults, the adultier adults. The adults who treat Killua and Gon like children. (Knov & Morel basically patronize peers rather than genuinely treat them like kids)

They are nowhere. The boys do not have parents. They spend the entire series outgrowing their circumstances, changing themselves and others around them. They’re growing up.

But I dont think you could call it a childhood.

[binks-brew-co]

I generally see Leorio and Kurapika more like older siblings than parents. My husband is significantly older than his youngest brother and Gon and Leorio’s relationship has always reminded me of them. The jokes people make about Leorio being more of a dad than Ging ring more true when you realize a lot of siblings take on a similar role - similar, but not the same (crucially). Similarly, Kurapika feels more akin to Killua’s older brother, just a better-adjusted one than what he already has. He also has very “mom friend” vibes, and Killua has a terrible relationship with his mother (something Bisky is also a foil for). Togashi loves to play with foils but I do wonder if people take it a bit too literally or aren’t exposed to less-traditional family structures

[battlefrankies]

imo it's just bad faith to assume oda doesn't understand transness or queerness just because he depicts his trans characters in such a way that some people don't personally relate to. I think he's got such a diverse spectrum of queer identities on display in one piece that it's just plain racism to assume the cool stuff he's done is somehow by accident.

yamato has such an interesting and offbeat approach to gender that no actual person can relate to because he didn't spend his life getting gender roles indoctrinated into him but rather everyone accepted that he's a man, but kaido continued to hunt him down in the mountains of wano. the idea that he has to conform to anyone's expectations of what a trans man looks like or else he's 'bad representation' is more transphobic than anything oda has ever put  on a page tbh!

this 50 year old Japanese man has a better grasp on the meaning of liberation from the gender binary than any clowns demanding that queerness must look a certain way. I think we give too much credence to the assertion that oda doesn't Get It, because he clearly fucking does.

[cosmicdraghon]

[questionable-method]

sometimes pre-ts zoro is just so very Nineteen that it makes me emotional. he's reckless. he's vulnerable. he's never worried about wrecking his body because he's young and strong and he can bounce back. (or maybe it's that he's kind of suicidal.) he's lonely. he laughs at stupid things. he acts older than his friends who are barely younger than him. he completely overestimates his skill level. his guiding philosophy is "fuck it we ball." his sleep schedule is just whatever happens. he has not been held in a long time. he can barely contain the love he feels. he is so so awkward about showing it. he's sure of what he wants. he thinks he's much closer to it than he is. he really really needs a damn hug.

[questionable-method]

A lot of ppl are reblogging this saying they miss the pre timeskip characterization and he doesn't feel like him anymore he's not silly anymore etc. and what they're noticing is true but I'm not sure it's a writing flaw like everyone seems to think. I think actually Zoro's post timeskip behavior is a very realistic trauma response.

For one bright, shining moment in Zoro's life he wasn't alone. He was surrounded by family and love and laughter. And then he couldn't protect them. Even after wrecking his body in every possible way it wasn't enough. He lost them. Luffy, the man to whom he swore he'd never lose again, nearly died and Zoro wasn't there to help, because he did lose. Helplessly, brutally.

Then he spent the next two years doing nothing but fight and train and wonder if his friends were okay, aware even when he returned that he's still not the strongest fighter out there. That he still might fail and lose them all again if he's not careful. He had basically no social development at all during that time with only Mihawk and Perona to keep him company, both of whom are awkward loners themselves, really. All he had to occupy his mind with was grief, shame, and determination to be stronger.

So yeah he acts tough and stoic and he doesn't laugh as much anymore or goof off in the middle of fights because now he knows the cost. He knows what could be taken from him at any time. He is not going to let his guard down. If keeping his family safe and together means he doesn't get to feel as carefree anymore, he'll choose that in an instant. He will always choose the option where he takes on a burden and carries it as well as he can so that no one else has to.

In short, he's terrified. This is how Zoro acts when he's afraid and refusing to show it. And I don't think his characterization will stay this way forever. I think sooner or later he's going to break.

[angelina-att]

Inktober – Day 25 & 26 Yohohohoo for #onion and #skeletal , Brook is helping Sanji in the kitchen🧅🔪

[piracytheorist]

I think it's very intentional that after his injury, Roland is portrayed as a cook. Of course, being taken out of the front lines, he would still be given tasks to do around the barracks, and they couldn't be very selective or merciful with tasks during a war while soldiers were constantly dying. Between those two moments, the anime also shows him clean and prepare a rifle, and as a sergeant he would also be tasked with supervising his privates. As long as it wouldn't make his injuries worse, he would have things to do around his day.

But the intended depiction is him as a cook. Since they would be dealing with limited resources and he'd have to cook for the entire troop, it's still simple tasks like peeling potatoes and dicing onions, but it's still the task of a provider.

And I think it's even more meaningful if you consider that the reason he survived the Kielberg bombing was because he was acting as a provider.

He took time out of his day to go fishing, to provide sustenance for him and his mother (pointing out that food was already in shortage), and because of that he was outside when the planes came, and he was pushed into a shelter. If he hadn't gone fishing and stayed at home, he would have been there when the bombs fell.

But unlike the lie that saved his life in the Luwen bombing, I think we're meant to be shown that the role of a provider is way more fitting for him, and one he'll choose to keep after he's dropped lying. It all ties in meaningfully to how we see him cook for the Forgers. He doesn't have to cook entire feasts, or even tasty meals for that matter. But honestly, the effort he puts into providing for the family, as well as the reception from others - Yor and Anya, even Yuri and Bond pointing out how good his cooking is - feel like they're there to tell us he enjoys taking up that task. Even if, being Twilight, he doesn't really admit that to himself.

Of course, behind the scenes, Endo explains why and how he's gotten his culinary skills.

But narrative choices can be meaningful, and Endo has proven beyond a doubt that he puts a lot of thought and meaning to his choices. He could have found any excuse to explain why young [redacted] was not in the house when the bombing happened, and to show Roland do any other chore other than cooking (and I think the symbolism of him as a provider was more important than the onion = lies one). With such a choice, I can't help connecting it to what we've seen of Loid as a cook so far, and see it as a meaningful characterization.

(no manga spoilers please)

[marutteii]

[chialattea]

I still can’t believe Ivankov is a real character. Like, he’s queer. They’re an armed resistance fighter. She went to jail for crimes against the government. He started a secret drag club there. They’re canonically the queen of the queers. They survived the hunger games. He has blackmail on one of the former warlords and is the sister-in-law of another. They use all pronouns. She uses no pronouns. Their gender cannot be contained by a single pronoun so vhey made their own. They canonically go to war on high-heels, acrylic nails and fishnet stockings. He’s the human embodiment of HRT. They’re the trusted friend and ally of the most dangerous man in the world. She can literally command armies. There’s an entire island of queer people who’ve sworn loyalty to him. They fear no god they ARE their own god absolutely amazing character in a shonen manga 10/10 will never be replicated again HEEEEE HAW!!!

[milfsisyphus]

stop earning advanced degrees i need you to finish your fanfiction

[binks-brew-co]

Baby Katakuri spotted 👀👀👀

[binks-brew-co]

[polarity-undisturbed]

Man… Dandadan is such a good genre blend of fantasy and sci-fi. It explores both through the lens of Japanese history and culture, and it does it really well.

But then it also does typical anime things—like having weird, over-the-top villains get handsy with its underage protagonists.

And the thing is, it’s not the same as the usual “let’s titillate teenage boys” fanservice you see in lower-effort anime. There’s an actual point here. The series is clearly aware of what it’s doing. It’s critiquing how adults—especially institutions—objectify, dismiss, and exploit adolescents. It’s about the way society simultaneously shames and commodifies young people’s bodies and emotions.

Because without the context to know what it’s pushing back against, it just looks like it’s doing the same tired, gross anime thing. And it becomes incredibly difficult to recommend to people who aren’t already familiar with anime and its tropes. You have to preface it with like three disclaimers and a mini lecture on Anime and Japanese culture.

And it’s frustrating. Because it is good. It’s funny and weird and heartfelt and genuinely thoughtful. It cares about its characters. It takes genre seriously without taking itself too seriously. But I still find myself hesitating to bring it up in casual recs because I don’t want to spend twenty minutes explaining why “no, the horny alien thing is part of the point.”

[angelcake10023]

And what if I said Twilight is autistic and his spy superpower is masking- what then?

[binks-brew-co]

Legitimately, as a diagnosed autistic person, Loid’s thought processes and approaches are the closest representations I’ve encountered to how my brain works. He’s a lot more effective than me and does it better lmao, but still

SxF has actually been really important for me on my journey, it does (unintentional?) autistic rep so well

[heisoark]

as long as you exist, I will too

[binks-brew-co]